“Before I do,” he said, reaching for her hands and bringing them to his lips, “I have to do something about that anticipating-disaster look on your face.” When he had her full attention, he said, “I love you, Samantha, and you’re the most important thing in my life. More important than my job, my new title and all the perks that’ll come with it.”

“That’s sweet of you to say.” She finally cracked a grin as they walked toward the elevator. “Do you know how many police lieutenants there are in this country?”

“Maybe a couple thousand plus one more today?” he said, perplexed by the question.

“That’s about right. Guess how many U.S. senators there are?”

“That one I know—exactly one hundred. What’s your point?”

“No point. I was just doing the math.”

In the elevator, he backed her up against the wall. “Your big day was every bit as big as mine.”

“No, it wasn’t,” she said, her hands resting on his chest. “I got the mayor. You got the president.”

“Big whoop. He came out of respect for John and because he’s an old friend of Graham’s.”

“He came because he wants to court the newest Democratic senator.”

Nick shrugged. “None of this is going to change me, Sam. I swear. I’m the same guy you woke up with this morning. I’m the same guy you’re going to sleep with tonight. I promise.”

“Making a lot of assumptions, aren’t you?” She tossed a saucy grin over her shoulder as she stepped off the elevator ahead of him.

“No assumptions.” He took her hand and fought her efforts to break free of him as they stepped into his crowded office. “Just stating the facts, Lieutenant.”

“You’d better go talk to the president.”

“Come with me.”

“You go ahead. I’ll be right over there.” She pointed to where her father, Celia, Tracy, Angela and their families had congregated, outside of what used to be Nick’s office.

Ignoring that, he tightened his grip on her hand and moved toward the president. As she reluctantly followed him he could feel her tension, but he refused to allow her to put distance between them. That was not going to happen.

“Mr. President,” Nick said, extending his free hand. “I can’t thank you enough for being here.”

“My pleasure, Senator,” President Nelson said. Turning his attention to Sam, he added, “And it’s nice to see you again, Sergeant.”

“Actually,” Nick said, sliding an arm around Sam’s waist, “it’s Lieutenant. As of about two hours ago.”

“Well, congratulations to both of you.”

“Thank you,” Sam said.

“We have to be going,” President Nelson said, “but I look forward to working with you. If I can do anything for you, my door’s always open.”

“Likewise, sir,” Nick said.